Welcome to the 26th Annual Benefit Art Auction of Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions. Again this year, we are deeply honored by the level of support contributed by so many to make this event a great success. LACE is proud to be part of such a strong, creative contemporary art community in Los Angeles.

While traditionally the Auction has been held in the fall, this year we are pleased to be holding this event in the spring for the first time. Making the Auction a springtime event, so that it falls in the center of our program calendar, will strengthen LACE’s annual fundraising position. In fundraising, as in programming, it is LACE’s ongoing willingness to continually re-evaluate its position in the community and react nimbly to an ever-changing climate that makes LACE a lasting, relevant, and fresh organization.

We are also especially excited that the Auction is in the spring this year as it coincides with LACE welcoming a new Executive Director. Outgoing Director/Curator Irene Tsatsos accomplished so much during her more than seven year tenure. She sought out daring opportunities and key local and international artists, expanding both the scale and production of exhibitions and also the critical acclaim that they would garner. She introduced new educational and outreach programs such as ArtKid and ArtWorks, which engage local children and youth-at-risk in Hollywood in art-based dialogue, and the Salon Series, participatory evening programs conceived and led by artists.

Among some of the landmark projects that Irene organized and oversaw during her tenure were: “Yvonne Rainer: Radical Juxtapositions, 1961-2002” (2004), “Small Skyscraper” (2003) by Chris Burden with TK Architecture, Christoph Büchel (2003), and “Democracy When? Activist Strategizing in Los Angeles” (2002). LACE thanks Irene for her years of incredible dedication, spirit, and service and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.
While Irene will be missed and her absence has been strongly felt over the last few months, we are thrilled to welcome a new director with all of the additional energy that a new tenure brings. We look forward to
seeing all of you at events in the coming months so that you can join in welcoming the new director. Your ongoing involvement with LACE is especially welcome and crucial as we move into this exciting phase of our development.

In the meantime, there are many people who have worked very hard and given so much to make this spring’s Auction a success, and I would like to thank them all. First and foremost, we could not accomplish this event without the donating Artists and galleries who so generously contribute artworks to support LACE; all of you have our deepest gratitude. Thanks also to the generous Silent Auction donors, who provided fantastic design items and services for the silent portion of this year’s event.

We are also honored to have the participation of our venerable Host Committee members, who provide us with the wider community support necessary to generate an additional level of excitement and attention for the Auction: Gloria Allred, Justine Bateman, Howard Bragman, Andrea Feldman Falcione, Councilmember Eric Garcetti, Kris Kuramitsu, Anne Litt, Lucy Liu, Mary McCormack, Kate Miller, David Morgan, Jamie Rosenthal, and Kenny Scharf. And, of course, the Auction would never happen without the sustained efforts of our fantastic Steering Committee: Rachel Allen, Katie Brennan, Kellie Dancho, Bettina Hubby, Tony Payne, Erica Redling, Lori Schlachter-Batt, Irene Tsatsos, Brian Wills, and Erin Wright.

We also wish to acknowledge our beloved event sponsors and supporters, who bring a special touch to every detail of the event, including: flowers by Rita Flora; food and beverages by Il Fornaio, Michael’s, Bombay Sapphire, Dubonnet, Hpnotiq, Izze Beverage Company, Judy Oppenheimer and the Anson Group, and Whaler’s Rum; Silent Auction styling by enView Gallery; photography by consummate professional Joshua White; wonderful design work under difficult deadlines by The Department of Graphic Sciences; framing by Curatorial Assistance, Don Francis Framing, Finishing Solutions, Inez Fine Art Framing, Random Gallery, Universal Fine Art Framing, and West Hollywood Picture Framing; and special thanks to our media sponsor, LA.com. Extra special thanks to: Chloë Flores, who drafted the essays that appear in our catalogue and on this Auction website; Gary Cannone, our tireless webmaster; and F.A. Daniels for their excellent and highly responsive printing services. Our gratitude also to LACE’s Silver Circle members, who contribute at a special level and whose participation helps make the Auction an exceptional event.

Thank you also to the LACE staff, who made this first spring version of the event possible by taking on tighter-than-usual deadlines with grace and stamina: Jessica Basta, Development Coordinator; Kellie Dancho, Event Coordinator; Bridget DuLong, Managing Director; Karl Erickson, Program Coordinator; Matt Lipps, Communications Coordinator; as well as all of our excellent gallery docents, administrative assistants, and volunteers, including Jonathan Belli, Enrique Castrejon, Olivian Cha, Chad Clark, C. Finley, Chloë Flores, Alison Frey, Stephanie Hutin, Lori Labrado, Kelly Parker, Katy Robinson—and many others who so generously and steadily donate their time, both to this event, and year-round.

Additional thanks to my fellow members of the Board of Directors: Dorit Cypis, Eve Steele Gelles, Blake Koh (who serves as our dynamic Auctioneer), Tiffiny Lendrum, Tony Payne, David Richards, Guy Smith, and Brian Wills. The Board has not only worked incredibly hard to ensure this year’s Auction is a success, but has also spent countless hours on other major matters such as selecting the new Executive Director, to which end they also enjoyed the assistance of indomitable Search Committee, and community members: Mark Bradford, Connie Butler, Catherine Lord, Tina Petra, Glenn R. Phillips, and Linda Taalman. And special thanks to LACE’s esteemed Artist Advisors, who provide inspiration and connection to the community throughout the year.

Thank you again for your support of LACE. If you have not already done so, please join LACE as a member. Membership, at any level, is a fantastic way to show your support on a regular basis, and entitles you to valuable benefits and entry to exciting events related to the provocative programming LACE offers.

Please, enjoy yourself at our 26th Annual Art Benefit Auction, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Sarah S. Conley
President, LACE Board of Directors